Over the course of 2002, BASF intends to increase the production capacity of Ultramid® C, a polyamide specialty, by 15,000 metric tons. The material is a specialty in BASF’s polyamide range which also includes the higher volume products Ultramid A (PA 66) and Ultramid B (PA 6). The capacity is being expanded to satisfy increasing demand (estimated annual growth: about 8 to 12 percent) and is part of BASF’s strategy to strengthen the specialty business within its plastics segment. The debottlenecking will be completed in the third quarter of 2002. The company’s European production capacities of all polyamide types amount to 340,000 metric tons. Ultramid C is a copolyamide based on PA 6 and PA 66. Depending on the ratio and the order of these two building units a broad spectrum of properties can be achieved. Ultramid C can be processed by (co)extrusion blow moulding to produce multi-layer films for food packaging. These films have good thermoforming qualities and a high oxygen barrier. Strong, transparent and flexible monofilaments made of Ultramid C can be used as high-quality tennis strings or wires for fishing equipment and lawn trimmers.
